Mayer, Mercer Books

There's a Nightmare in My Closet (There's Aà)

Mercer Mayer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 36 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

I really regret reading this book to my 4-year old! 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

My 4-year old has fears for darkness so I thought reading this book might help! I read it to him only once and I regretted it immediately. Too late, it made him more scared of darkness, now he has to check closets (he never did this before) and is worried that monsters are hiding there. Be aware parents!!!

My daughter loves this book 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

My almost three year old daughter thinks this book is great. It is wonderful how the feared is befriended. The pictures are wonderful and very evocative. Enjoy it!

Beware if you don't already have nighttime fears 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Without much forethought, I pulled this book out of the closet to read to my nearly 4-year-old. Despite the child's unfortunate use of a weapon, a toy gun, to scare the monster/nightmare, this might have been an amusing way to talk about talk about 'things that bump in the night'. Unfortunately, in our house, it created worries about 'nightmares'. My child has no clue what a nightmare is, just that it's something she should be afraid of, causing an anxiety about falling asleep. After several discussions about the fact that a nightmare is a bad dream (like my childhood nightmare of losing my blankie), and how to handle them, my daughter continues to ask, "Mama, what color your nightmare?" English is my daughter's second language, making abstract concepts a bit more difficult to grasp. I wish I'd considered that before reading the book. Please don't read this to your child unless you're sure she/he can understand the message.

Editorial Review:

Childhood fear of the dark and the resulting exercise in imaginative exaggeration are given that special Mercer Mayer treatment in this dryly humorous fantasy. -School Library Journal

The Figure In the Shadows (Lewis Barnavelt)

John Bellairs

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 27 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

2nd book in the 'Lewis Barnavelt' series 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

John Bellairs is best known as the author of sixteen gothic mystery novels for young adults comprising the Lewis Barnavelt, Anthony Monday, and Johnny Dixon series. "The Figure in the Shadows" (1975) is the second book in the Lewis Barnavelt series and is preceded by "The House with a Clock in Its Walls" (1973).

So far from what I've read of this author, his characters tend to be elderly eccentrics, or ordinary children (no superkids, here). Lewis is resourceful, but with a child's fears and limitations. Most especially, he is afraid that his uncle Jonathan might send him off to reform school if he discovers that his nephew has been dabbling in magic.

Lewis is a newly orphaned, plump, pre-adolescent boy who wears "purple corduroy trousers, the kind that go `whip-whip' when you walk." He went to live with his Uncle Jonathan (who is also a wizard) in New Zebedee, Michigan after his parents were killed in an automobile accident. It is the late 1940s, and New Zebedee bears a strong resemblance to Marshall, Michigan, where the author was born--- The Cronin House and the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) Hall still stand in Marshall, just as their counterparts do in New Zebedee.

Lewis wants desperately to believe that an old coin belonging to his Great-Grampa Barnavelt has magical powers. He and his best friend, Rose Rita sneak a book out of Uncle Jonathan's occult library and perform a ceremony to `activate' the coin or `magical amulet' as Lewis likes to think of it. He is being bullied at school by a nasty character who stole his new Sherlock Holmes hat, so Lewis starts to wear the old Civil War coin around his neck for protection. Finally he turns on the bully and beats him up, but soon learns that the coin has other, even darker powers.

Late one night, Lewis hears the mail slot on the front door clang. When he picks up the postcard addressed to him, a line of writing appears on the back: "Venio" which means "I come" in Latin.

Lewis picks up a crumpled piece of notebook paper on the sidewalk with the same Latin message, and soon he begins to see a shadowy figure in a long coat. One night as he is walking home from the library, Lewis spots the figure standing under a street lamp. He goes up to it and "the figure walked forward out of the circle of lamplight. Now it was standing before Lewis. Lewis smelled something. He smelled cold ashes. Cold wet ashes."

After he manages to escape, Lewis is so frightened that he asks his friend, Rose Rita to take the coin and throw it away. She wrestles the coin away from him, but instead of throwing it into the storm drain, she hides it.

The bully starts in on Lewis again, and he decides he'll do anything to get the coin back again, even steal it from Rose Rita.

By the time we figure out who the shadowy figure is and why it smells like wet ashes, this story has taken a very frightening turn. Lewis has disappeared and it is up to his Uncle Jonathan, his neighbor, Mrs. Zimmerman, and his friend, Rose Rita to rescue him from a particularly unpleasant fate.

Editorial Review:

John Bellairs, the name in Gothic mysteries for middle graders, wrote terrifying tales full of adventure, attitude, and alarm. For years, young readers have crept, crawled, and gone bump in the night with the unlikely heroes of these Gothic novels: Lewis Barnavelt, Johnny Dixon, and Anthony Monday. Now, the ten top-selling titles feature an updated cover look. Loyal fans and enticed newcomers will love the series even more with this haunting new look!

Purple Pickle Juice (Step-Into-Reading, Step 3)

Erica Farber, J.R. Sansevere

List Price: $3.99 By: Random House Books for Young Readers Amazon Marketplace: 59 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Purple Pickle Juice is howlin with fun 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Hi my name is Charlee,I live in Newport MN, Cottage Grove MN, and Spooner WI. I'm ten I have a niece and nephew that sleep over alot and at bed time they sometimes have me read to them. When it comes to books Purple Pickle Juice by Mercer Mayer is the one. Its very funny. It has cute little spells like:"Hands above, feet below! Grow I say! Grow! Grow! Grow!" So if you like to laugh, visit Thistle Howell and her grand mother in Purple pickle Juice!

Thistle Howl grows up (just a little bit). 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Wow, I loved Mercer Mayer's Critter books when I was a kid! I never ever heard of Mayer's Critter's of the Night books though! I loved this one. Littlest Howl Family(Mayers version of the Addams Family)member, Thistle Howl is a little girl critter that is tired of being so small. When she wishes she could grow, her aunt, a wisened witch in the family, goes to great lengths to grant her niece's wish. Auntie Bell is hard of hearing though, and her attempts to replace Thistle's frown with a smile are hilarious!
I shared this book with 16 preschoolers at a public library during storytime. What a fantastic read! Mayer's little critters are just like the little critters we all adore in our own families today. Thistle is no exception. Her craving to be big is a familiar theme that captures the attention of every child. The illustrations are even more fantastic and fill the story with color and amusing accents. Even without the incredible pictures, the story is a must have for every child that wishes he or she could be just a little bit bigger.

Editorial Review:

Each morning, Thistle Howl drinks a glass of purple pickle juice and chants: "Hands above, feet below.  Grow, I say.  GROW!  GROW!  GROW!"  Yet she doesn't get any bigger.  Then Auntie Bell offers a few incantations of her own--and Thistle gets a humongous surprise!  

Werewolves for Lunch (Critters of the Night, Book 1)

Mercer Mayer

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Editorial Review:

A strange new family has moved into Old Howl Hall.  And Critter Falls' three biggest busybodies--Mrs. Plum, Mrs. Pucker, and Mrs. Pinch--can't wait to check them out.  The  situation gets really hairy when the nosy ladies pop in for lunch--and find much more on the menu than they expected!  

You're the Scaredy-cat

Mercer Mayer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

scaredy cat 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This was a interesting book about a little boy and his brother.
It was funny and made me laugh. The older brother was more scared then the little brother.

Editorial Review:

A scary story followed by strange noises drives the campers inside during their night in the backyard.

Zoom on My Broom (Step-Into-Reading, Step 3)

Erica Farber, J.R. Sansevere

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Cute little book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is about family and friends, and it is so much fun! My 6 year-old loves it. It is easy and short, but a great book for children learning to read.

Editorial Review:

Thistle's new playmate is about to discover that a visit to Old Howl Hall is not your average play date. From peculiar pets to terrifying treats, this is truly a ferociously funny family. Beginning readers will be able to zoom through this spooky text with the greatest of ease.  

To Catch a Little Fish (Mercer Mayer's Critters of the Night)

Mercer Mayer

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Editorial Review:

Thistle Howl proudly drags her fishing catch home to show Momma.  But her "little fish"--a big, slimy octopus--does not adjust well to being a pet, and soon crawls back to the swamp.  

There's Something in My Attic (There's Aà)

Mercer Mayer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

This is one of my favorites by Mercer Mayer. 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I teach preschool aged children and we use this story when talking about fears. When I read it I start in a whispered tone, and when she sees the "something" in the atic I yell at the same time she does. The children jump a mile and laugh like mad. We then take a good look at the "something" and the girl. We all belive the "something" is more scard than the girl. I recomend this and any of Mayer's Little Critter books to any one with children.

CHS Book Report 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I like this book because it was read all the time when i was like 3 and 4 and still love it!

CHS Book Report 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book was read to me as a little people and still love it!

Editorial Review:

A little girl with a lasso bravely prepares to confront the scary nightmare living in her attic. Reprint. K. SLJ.

Zombies Don't Do Windows (Critters of the Night)

Mercer Mayer

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Editorial Review:

There's no April freshness at the Pinch family's house.  Their new cleaning lady smells disgusting.  But that's pretty normal...for a zombie!  And she's turning everyone else in Critter Falls into zombies, too.  It's up to the Howls to stop her--without being eaten alive!  

Critters of the Night - Mummy Pancakes (Tattoo Tales)

Mercer Mayer

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Editorial Review:

Featuring tattoos from the mysterious land of the pyramids and of the Howl family too, this new Critters of the Night(TM) adventure is guaranteed to leave its mark on you! When Cousin Moose Mummy is kidnapped by Queen Mummy, it's up to Axel and Groad to whip up a plan -- and a big batch of pancakes -- before the evil Guardians of the Pyramid find out what's cooking.